Forward is first of many expected to be assigned

Luke Lynes played two games with the Stockton Thunder last season, and he's scheduled for a return visit.

Scott Linesburgh

Luke Lynes played two games with the Stockton Thunder last season, and he's scheduled for a return visit.

The forward is the first player assigned to the Thunder by its American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. Stockton is expected to get 10 to 12 players from Springfield and the Edmonton Oilers, its NHL parent club.

Thunder forward Tom Zanoski, who had a tryout with the Falcons, has been released and will return to the Thunder. Players report on Saturday and Sunday, and Stockton's training camp begins with a morning practice on Monday.

Lynes, 20, was sent to Stockton at the end of the 2007-08 season.

"He's a guy that can make things happen, and he's strong on his skates," said Chris Cichocki, who begins his fourth season as Stockton's coach. "He scored throughout his (junior hockey) career, and he has the ability to do it in the pros."

Cichocki said he is hoping to know which players he will be getting from Springfield by Saturday. The Falcons have exhibition games on Wednesday and Friday, and coach Jeff Truitt is likely to make cuts to his roster after each.

The Thunder's annual FanFest will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Stockton Arena.

Spectators can watch the Thunder participate in a free-skate session free of charge. Afterward, the players will be available for autographs. Single-game tickets will go on sale at the event.

The FanFest usually is on the weekend, but Cichocki said he still expects a good and enthusiastic crowd.

"I know it's a Monday, but there's still excitement to see hockey return," Cichocki said. "It should be a lot of fun. We're looking forward to it."

The ECHL held its preseason meetings on Friday in Chicago and ratified a few new rules.

Most notably is the decision to adopt the NHL and AHL delay of game penalty for any player who shoots the puck directly over the glass from his defending zone.

The league also went with the NHL procedure of dry scraping the ice with a Zamboni before a shootout. The smoother ice should aid the shooters.